By Fineline Cube 
AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) announced on October 25, 2025, the launch of its sixth Global Strategic R&D Center in Beijing, accelerating its USD 2.5b investment in China. The center aims to build a scientific innovation ecosystem linking Beijing, Cambridge, and AstraZeneca, and has initiated research collaborations with Harbour BioMed.
R&D Center Significance
This R&D center, AstraZeneca’s second in China, is a core component of its USD 2.5b (approximately RMB 18 billion) investment plan. The center features an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science Center, designed to accelerate the translation of early-stage drug research into clinical development.
Harbour BioMed Collaboration
On the same day, the Harbour BioMed-AstraZeneca Innovation Lab was inaugurated in Beijing. Since establishing a global strategic collaboration in March 2025, the companies have worked to develop next-generation multi-specific antibody therapies for immunological diseases, oncology, and other indications. The Innovation Lab, now fully operational, leverages Harbour BioMed’s antibody drug development platform and AI wet and dry lab platform to support the R&D of next-generation therapeutic antibodies.-Fineline Info & Tech